Wayland High grad, MassBay student competes in golf national championship

Monday

Jul 10, 2017 at 12:00 PMJul 12, 2017 at 10:37 AM

Brian Benson Daily News Staff @bbensonMWDN

WAYLAND - For Nick Barber, competing at a recent National Junior College Athletic Association Division III golf national championship was unlike any other tournament.

It involved traveling to Chautauqua Golf Club in New York in June and focusing on the sport throughout the multi-day event.

"It was definitely different than a normal tournament," said Barber, a 2015 Wayland High School graduate who is studying general business at MassBay Community College. "We're in a different state (and) staying in a hotel. ... That kind of changed the atmosphere."

The tournament gives players the taste of what a professional golfer does, said Adam Nelson, MassBay's athletic director.

"It's not easy to get to by any means," Nelson said. "It's definitely an honor just to get there."

Barber, who was only the second MassBay golfer to reach the tournament, shot 83–78–77–84 for a total score of 322. He placed 30th out of 92 golfers. In May, he finished fourth at a regional championship at Chicopee Country Club to qualify for the national championship.

Barber said he wished he had shot better, but the course was challenging. He had to adjust how he shot balls onto the greens.

"The greens were some of the most challenging greens I've played in a long time," he said.

Barber, who has been playing golf for about seven years, said he got into the sport after caddying at Pine Brook Country Club in Weston, where his father is a golf pro.

"There are different ways to get the ball in the hole and different ways to take advantage of the golf course," he said. "I like how you don't have to rely on anybody else. It's just you. There are no excuses you can make. It's all on you."

The sport is also a great way to enjoy nice weather, he said.

Barber, who started at MassBay in January, said he hopes to improve his game and try to get back to the championship next year. He praised support from MassBay golf coach Slader Lyell and others at the school.

Nelson, who attended the national championship with Barber, said Barber awed people with his long drives.

"It was great to be out there with him and he represented MassBay in a really positive way," Nelson said.

Brian Benson can be reached at 508-626-3964 or bbenson@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @bbensonmwdn.

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